The CPSC’s research finds that recalls impact both consumers who purchase new products and consumers who purchase products—such as cribs and high chairs, whose safety standards change over the years—at yard sales and thrift stores. The products’ bar codes can be used by some of the apps to determine whether there has been a recall. Others check user emails for information on products purchased online.

The four new apps:

Safety Checker usually needs just three fields filled in or the bar code scanned to find recall data. The app works with iOS and Android devices.

Recall Pro uses Google Chrome to help consumers find recall information before making an online purchase.

The “Slice” app checks purchases via email inboxes against the CPSC’s recall list and is available for iOS and Android users.

Total Recall 101 checks a user’s email inbox and archives for references to purchased products, including product receipts and conversations with friends (but emails remain private to the user). The app matches products against the CPSC’s recall list and alerts users to any problems.